“Hell is gone and Heaven’s here, there’s nothing left for you to fear,” he sang after he zip-lined from the towering top of the North Stand stage.

“Shake your a**e come over here, now SCREAM!”

The football ground has never heard anything so terrifying in its famous history.

The oestrogen scream must have been heard for miles around. Birds probably dropped from the sky; dogs whined in misery.

Boy, did the crowd let Robbie entertain them.

(But the woman in the front row wasn’t to be moved).

“You’re not impressed, are you,” the Robster demanded of her. No, she wasn’t.

“She’s a Take That fundamentalist,” announced Robbie.

The return of the boy band bad boy initially split the fans. Some were glad to have him back, others reckoned Take That were better without him.

But the overall reaction in Brum was of welcome.

Gary, Howard, Mark and Jason came on first, of course, running through Rule The World, Greatest Day, Hold Up A Light, Patience and Shine, songs which have proved they have staying power few sniffy critics suspected.

There was some nonsense with a giant keyboard, swirling lights and Alice In Wonderland characters.

But Robbie as white rabbit? One minute he was cute, the next in your face.

Cue Let Me Entertain You, Rock DJ, Come Undone, Feel (during which Robbie pressed the flesh) and Angels. Such is the strength of the setlist that they can afford to do the latter halfway through the show.

The Flood followed, the reunion anthem ushered in by a torrent of water from the top of the stage as abseiling figures fought the flow.

The Fab Four were now The Famous Five.

There followed a clutch of songs from the Progress album: SOS, Underground Machine (complete with a chess match dance-off), Kidz and Pretty Things. During the latter a giant robot named Om held two of the band in its hands.

Musical maturity mustn’t be rushed, however.

A playful piano medley of Million Love Songs, Babe, Everything Changes and Back For Good restored the boy band balance.

There was a stab at Red Red Wine in deference to UB40 but they didn’t know the words.

“It’s 15 years since Robbie left the band,” Jason told the crowd.

“It’s 15 years since you sacked me,” snapped back Robbie.

Crowd-pleaser Pray, so-so single Love Love, Never Forget and No Regrets followed as the 60ft tall robot strode across the pitch.

It ended with a predictable Relight My Fire, Robbie wailing the Lulu part.

At the close a stroke of genius. As Eight Letters boomed over the PA, the five made their way back through the crowd, shaking hands, saying ‘Good Night’ and thanking fans in person.

And as he left the stage, Robbie paused, made a beeline for that woman in the front row – and gave her a hug.

No regrets, then. That’s Progress.

PAUL COLE

HAre YOU the Take That fundamentalist Robbie hugged? Ring 0121 234 5493 and tell us your story!